Rain falls outside of the cabin, some droplets leaking inside to wet the dusty floor. Thunder pounds upon the night of this labor camp with a deafening chorus. Darkness pervades, and yet still you see clearly the massacre within. Guisi slaughtered by the mysterious lunatic guard, and the bodies of whom you suspect to be Odette's children lay among them, especially brutalized.

Another crack of lightning illuminates the dark, and it brings color to the bloody cabin. You remain in quiet silence as Odette awaits on guard outside, she knows not yet what transpired within, her eyes are not as keen to pierce the veil that is the night.

“We must tell her.” Whispers the reaper from within. “If it was I, I would want to know.”

“But is the time right?” You return. “Already, she's at her limits, this could-”

“We are liars, imposter!” The Reaper yells out. “Yet we do not lie to each other, such is the kinship we Guisi have.”

“I spoke not of lying, only... Waiting...” You say with a whisper, a knot choking in your throat.

“She'd kill them all in her rage.”

“Reaper? We need to keep moving, the rain is coming down harder. I fear for the others.” Odette calls in from outside.

Your breath grips tight as you rise up from one of the bodies, a leaking droplet of the pouring rain splattering against your cheek, stinging the lingering cut.

>[“Yes... Let's go.”]
>[“Odette, you need to see this...”]
>[Write in]

>>43915736
>[“Odette, you need to see this...”]
The reaper's right

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15 KB JPG

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E3zNHd936c

Almost forgot to post the bgm for this thread. Disregard the typewriter part.

>>43915736
>[“Yes... Let's go.”]

>>43915736
>[“Yes... Let's go.”]

>>43915845
That's my changed vote from >>43915775

>>43915736
>[“Odette, you need to see this...”]

>>43915736
>[“Odette, you need to see this...”]
Nice to see you

>>43915736
>>[“Odette, you need to see this...”]

>>43915736
>[“Odette, you need to see this...”]
Nice to see you

>>43916028
>>43915962
Uhhh Repeat?

>>43916063
less than 5 minutes apart and different ips.
Seems to be different people

>>43916063
I'm not the first guy

>>43915736

Your heart weighs heavily, and you walk to the door, peering your head out into the deluge, you touch Odette by the shoulder. She jumps at first, spinning around to look at you, her white hair heavy with rain. As you silently usher her in, you grab the lantern from just outside, to shed some light on the darkness.

“Odette, I'm sorry, we were too late.” You begin.

She squints at the bodies illuminated by the steady light, slowly shaking her head, “Oh Luna... This is terrible.” She grits her teeth, “We need to kill them... The ones that-”

You place a hand upon her shoulder, and give her a mournful look. In silence, you shift the lantern to the mutilated corpses of the white-haired kids. “I though... You might...”

Odette's jaw drops in silence, then she falls to her knees, splattering the ashen mud. She screams with a mother's worse fear, a scream that you can only shut your eyes to in answer, and stay by her.
The scream ebbs, and sobbing takes its place.

“They... they... My babies... My children... How could they do this?”

You give her a few moments, and with a gentle voice so as not to come across callous, “Do you want some time alone with them? We're still-”

Odette looks up to you, her eyes bloodshot as far as you can tell. She then looks back to the bodies, and then to you, slowly shaking her head,” No. We need to end this. Luna has claimed them and they now spin with the rest of Thespia... The ones responsible...” She trembles, as her bow reforms within her hand, “They will die. I'll kill them. I will kill them all.”

>>43915736
>[“Yes... Let's go.”]

>>43916344

You withdraw your hand from Odette and set down the light as it cringes away, “Dead, the workers are dead. Why are they dead?”
Turning to the door, you and Odette leave in livid silence.


Outside, the rain continues to pour. With that chase, you've lost track of Mira, Cornel, and Gaffer. They went to free the others. You feel the hem of your pants, and the keyring you've stuck there, likely they'll manage with Mira's needle.

The sound of thunder rumbles, and you feel the very ground shake as though hurt. The breaking of wood is then heard shortly after.

>[Try to rendezvous with Mira, Cornel, and Gaffer.]
>[Investigate the source of the sounds in the distance.]
>[Hunt down any Danhor that are trying to guard or respond to the attack.]
>[Write in.]

>>43916368
>[Hunt down any Danhor that are trying to guard or respond to the attack.]

>>43916368
>[Investigate the source of the sounds in the distance.

>>43916368
>[Hunt down any Danhor that are trying to guard or respond to the attack.]

>>43916368
>[Hunt down any Danhor that are trying to guard or respond to the attack.]
Shit last vote was too late

>>43916368
>[Try to rendezvous with Mira, Cornel, and Gaffer.]

>>43916368
>>[Hunt down any Danhor that are trying to guard or respond to the attack.]

>>43916368
>[Hunt down any Danhor that are trying to guard or respond to the attack.]

>>43916368
>[Investigate the source of the sounds in the distance.]

>>43916368
wasn't there a mansion holding the leader of this place? Is that too far away to be a target?

>>43917177
I remember that being far away

>>43916368

With rain pouring down upon your backs, and grief weighing heavily upon your hearts, you and Odette trudge forward into the muck mud and ash that soils this land. Stalking the Danhor lingering around this camp, you are as a wraith, a grim reaper of vengeance.

A Danhor walks the sodden night with a lantern in hand, rivulets of rain dripping off of the glass cage, sword in hand. He raises his lantern and calls out to the two of you, unheard due to the deluge. You look to Odette, and she's already pulled an arrow back.

The Danhor reaches for his sword only to fall as her slashing arrows lops off his head.

The two of you ambush and kill guards that stand watch outside, an arrow to cleave out the heart, and an invisible blade of wind to effortlessly lop off a head.

The two of you enter as the guards collapse and see several Guisi safely bound within. Each of they have an iron ball shackled to their ankles, something that your scythe cannot cut.

“You will all be free tonight.” You say, as Thespia rumbles again. “I am the Reaper of Aurel.” You find the key to release their shackles and they cry out with joy as the bonds are undone.

“Thank you, thank you reaper! We knew you were real, we knew!” Looking over your shoulder to Odette, her features haven't softened, the deaths of her kin weigh heavily upon her. The freedom that you grant these Guisi must be a bitter reminder that she will never see her own family freed. No, they died as she feared, as slaves.

The freed Guisi, leave the cabin together, running for the exit that you'd told them of. A Danhor sees the runaways and raises a fuss. With swift judgment, you sweep your blade through the joint of his breastplate and faulds, cutting him in half at the waist. The threads of his fate instantly unravel, returning to Thespia's spinning. Your scythe drips with blood like a blood-coated fang as the rain washes it clean, staining the ground.

>>43917277

The Danhor takes a few last heaving breaths as he looks up to you with mortal fear in his eyes. Forming your scythe into a halberd, you slide the pike into his throat.

Odette walks up to you, looking down at the fresh corpse, the light leaving his eyes. There's a dim awareness from her own as she spits upon the dead.

As the two of you walk on to free the next cabin, she looks to you, “There are... fewer than expected.”

“Could they have been called away somewhere?” You ask, “Such as to the manor?

“Possible.” She says with a stoic expression, “Though I have fear that-”

The earth rumbles again, the sound of an explosion without the precursor of lightning rumbles in the distance. Odette looks out over the palisade, “I fear that there may be more than we thought.”

>[Find Mira, Cornel, and Gaffer. Free the rest. The Guisi in the woods can handle what's out there.]
>[Respond to the sounds beyond the palisade, what's going on out there?]
>[Try something... Ask the storm what ominous things occur tonight.]
>[Write in.]

>>43917299
>Send Oddete to investigate, while we work to free the rest.
After Cornel(?) makes a proper shelter for them, we'll return to view Oddete's massacre.

>>43917299
I'm going with >>43917349

>>43917299
>[Try something... Ask the storm what ominous things occur tonight.]
Yeah this was a thing

>>43917376
I have to warn you that I'm voting with the full knowledge that Oddete could end up dead.

>>43917299
>[Try something... Ask the storm what ominous things occur tonight.]

>>43917415
Always a possibility

>>43917299
>[Try something... Ask the storm what ominous things occur tonight.]

>>43917299
>[Find Mira, Cornel, and Gaffer. Free the rest. The Guisi in the woods can handle what's out there.]

>>43917299
>[Respond to the sounds beyond the palisade, what's going on out there?]

>>43917299

Turning your awareness to the storm, you call out, “Storm! What ominous things do happen in this tragic night?”

“Reaper?” Odette gives you a look of concern, “What are you doi-”

You shush her, as you listen. Among the downpour and the frequent rumble of thunder, you can hear a voice from the clouds of this dark night...

“Ominous...?” Lightning cackles in return, a thundering laughter following its wake. Odette retains her silence, as the storm's pattern changes. “The honorbound and the deceivers... slay each other this night. Both very wrong, and neither shall be quite right. Only the dead are freed from this fight. I await, and tremble as I see the ball and chain's might.”

“Who is the ball and chain?” You call out above the downpour.

The thunder rumbles in response, “The Scourge of the deceivers, those he enslaved. T'is by his oath taken that his role is played.”

“And whom does he swear fealty?”

The storm does not respond.

You bring your eyes down, and Odette stares at you with sheer wonder mixed with a tinge of fear, “Reaper... You can hear its voice?”

You feel the urge to lean away from her curiosity, “This is not the time Odette.”

“R-right” She says, ignoring the spectacle that is you. “What did it say?”

“The storm awaits the victors, it trembles before the ball and chain, the scourge of deceivers. Does that make any sense to you?”

“Ball and chain? The Scourge?” Her eyes go wide, “No... That's the one that crushed us, that-”

“Know your place woman, embrace your anger.” The black bow growls in response to its master's duress.

“That I must kill.” Odette says through renewed resolve and refreshed anger, red vapors literally seethe from her weapon, “Let us go reaper. Do you know where he is?”

“I can think of only one place.” You say as you turn to the dark woods, the one where your allies were to lay in wait and harass the camp.

>>43918201

[Interlude]

In the black night that the Guisi have chosen to exact their revenge and liberate their kin, Eko, the protean fox looks on from afar. She had been resilient to being included in the Guisi's plans as the problems of the Guisi are their own, and not to the business of a protean.

Even as the adults speak of dangerous things, as they light fires to confuse their adversaries, she stays with the children Ira and Hemma. It's not uncommon for Thespian children to trigger a maternal instinct in Proteans. Proteans hail directly from Thespia's womb after all. Thespians are like sons and daughters even if they do ravage their land with their own celestial plans.

This is why she would not take part, because it is as though children are fighting.

Arrows start to fly as the Thespians unveil their other selves, a trait exclusive to Guisi as Eko would know. She just kept the children close and told them that she would not let them fight.

As the night dragged on, rain doused the fires and a storm came as a precursor to the tragedies to come. A dark mass swung through a dozen trees breaks the archer's line, and from the dark debris steps a Thespian no less than eight feet tall and retracting a massive steel globe with the pull of a chain. More sons and daughters of Danhor rushed out, shields front to break arrows as well as the daunting rain.

The sight of the man incited a feeling in Eko, a deep dread that this would end in carnage.

“The ones shooting arrows are here. Groups of three, cover each other's backs and don't let their arrows find your necks.” The man lifts his giant steel ball, wide as his own torso, and brings it down with destructive force that makes Thespia wince in irritation.

He bellows with bloodchilling command,“Kill them all.”

>>43918228
so about that mansion...

I wonder if we can use the lord's authority to order Scourge to give us his face.

>>43918228
That sounds uncomfortable.
Especially the "Scourge of the Deceivers" part

>>43918310
Oop, I wanted to reply to that, the mansion is too far to reach tonight, it's situation away from this "unsightly mess."

>>43918338
>it's situation away from this "unsightly mess."
What?

>>43918228
>>43918201
This sounds like a problem

>>43918338
situated*

It's not anywhere near the labor camp as Hylon tend to not live with the source of their grisly prosperity in sight as this is unsightly.

>>43918228

>>43918228

>>43918228
Eko's tail fur standing on end in fear, she reaches for the threads of a tree, pulling back on them and holding the children close. “Make not a peep little ones, we shall hide.”
With a few words of the old tongue, the threads relax and stretch around the three of them, casting an illusion that they are no more than a tree...

[End interlude]

As flying through the storm was near impossible, you and Odette took a shortcut through the palisade, relying on her pact to chop down a part of the barrier. The two of you arrive to the sight of swathes of trees smashed, crying out in sorrow as they succumb to the slowest of deaths.

As you and Odette traverse the ruin, you find bodies, ones that you identify as other Guisi.

“No.” You whisper.

“No!” The Reaper screams within your soul.

And “No!” Odette roars as you readies an arrow rushing ahead for the culprits.

With a twirl of your scythe, you fly forward upon the low winds uninterrupted, water splattering against your face as you speed over the landscape. You see the Danhor marching together, covering the flanks of one especially large that drags a colossal steel ball behind him, chains wrapped all the way up his arm and resting in the other hand.

The Danhor soldiers carry lanterns upon their waists, illuminating the dark with flickering glimmers.

You can feel the rage building up inside as you stand behind the deadly procession of scum unnoticed. The blade of your scythe sharpens in hateful anticipation, its wrath becoming a maelstrom with your own.

>[ Unleash a flurry of Wind blades to kill them all.]
>[ Fly, and dismember them like a sickle on the wind.]
>[ Bring down your scythe as a halberd to impale the chief offender.]
>[ Write in.]

>>43918522
>[ Bring down your scythe as a halberd to impale the chief offender.]
Taking him down is the most important thing right now

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Second sound track, play with the first for enhanced dramatic tension!

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlLGwW7eHTI

>>43918522
>[ Unleash a flurry of Wind blades to kill them all.]

>>43918522
Well let's see
>[ Unleash a flurry of Wind blades to kill them all.]
Will probably kill most/all small fries.
Might not work at all because reasons
>[ Fly, and dismember them like a sickle on the wind.]
We can't fly in the storm so this is a stupid idea
>[ Bring down your scythe as a halberd to impale the chief offender.]
I think this just means rushing the enemy since flying isn't possible.
So a chance of being interrupted but if no will atleast heavily damage the Leader.

I think I'll go with
>[ Bring down your scythe as a halberd to impale the chief offender.]

>>43918522
>[ Unleash a flurry of Wind blades to kill them all.]

>>43918522
Fly. Deal with the masses and distract them from oddette

>>43918522
>[ Bring down your scythe as a halberd to impale the chief offender.]
We have to get rid of that guy
>>43918726
>As flying through the storm was near impossible,
Not a good idea I think

>>43918522
>[ Unleash a flurry of Wind blades to kill them all.]

>>43918522
>[ Unleash a flurry of Wind blades to kill them all.]

>>43918522

With overwhelming rage and despair, the storm ominous tension the storm affords pours into the very fiber of your being.

The concerto crickets set up for their performance. They set up proper cover with leaves to avoid their string instrumentals from getting wet. There's a sound test, first strings, then brass horns, woodwinds, and then... They begin playing an ominous melody, one fitting for cold-blooded murder in such a stormy night.

Your scythe's blade cracks into a demented fanged grin as you draw the weapon back, holding fast and firm in the horrendous weather. You can feel the grain of the ironwood, the water running down the shaft in steady rivulets. There is a silence for a moment, and as the wind blows, you seize its string with the blade of your scythe, erupting in a cascade of sweeping blades, your spell cries out, “Ventus Falcem!”

One group of three are ravaged by the blades, the second set under the assault just the same. The third raise the shields, and the wind blades break against their guard. Spark flying as the wind-blades meet metal. Finally, you aim for the leader, only he's already swung his massive steel ball for you, forcing you to break the wind-based assault and dart out of the way as the ball pounds into the land. The ones that raised their shields step forward only to be cut down by Odette's arrows fired in rapid furious succession.

She turns her ire to the commander and fires, only for the ball to be retracted and used as an impromptu shield. The commander's eyes follow you in the sweeping darkness while he remains wary of Odette's arrows.

“The loyal! Report! We have PoP users!” He bellows, calling far over the storm.

>>43919222

You hear the distant responses of those that are forward, likely hunting your people.

The commander glares once more at Odette, and slams his iron ball into the ground, sending a shower of mud everwhere and causing another small tremor. In the next moment, while vision impaired, you see him swinging his steel ball around, eyes locked on Odette.

>[Fly forward to knock her away from the steel ball!]
>[Send out another flurry of wind blades!... You don't know how many you have left in you.]
>[Rush him with the scythe as a halberd!]
>[Write in]

>Note: The weather disallows the reaper from flying high. Swift travel in near-ground altitudes are unimpeded.

>>43919239
>[Rush him with the scythe as a halberd!]

>>43919239
>[Rush him with the scythe as a halberd!]
Should force him into defense.

>>43919239
>[Rush him with the scythe as a halberd!]

>>43919239
>[Rush him with the scythe as a halberd!]
I know how caring too much about allies in your quests turns out Dran.

>>43919239
>[Rush him with the scythe as a halberd!]

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>>43919358
I'm sure you've noticed that ive been trying to change up my tropes.

Anyway, I must say that I can't wait till we can be in a bright and sunny place again. This place is making me feel like rain is covering my entire body.

>>43919239
>[Rush him with the scythe as a halberd!]

>>43919412
> I'm sure you've noticed that ive been trying to change up my tropes.
Trying and managing are two different things.
I mean this isn't Overhuman level of getting ass-raped but still

>>43919239

Forward, you spin your scythe to whip up a tailwind and fly forward just above the ground as you shift it into a halberd. Droplets of water break against the flow of your wind as you steady the pike to impale the Scourge through his armor.

Lightning flashes and you see the scourge staring at you upon your approach with the glare of one merciless eye as you charge from his side. In the next moment, he lets his steel ball fly for you and you're forced to dodge away. You evade the path of the ball, and drive forward, yet you feel something immense slam into your body, grazing you with a brutish yet slick impact as you're knocked out of your forward charge.

The Scourge retracts his ball and chain rapidly as he runs up to you, swinging the ball up and around as you fall into the mud, rolling from the force. He prepares to unleash a devastating underhand throw to finish you off, yet one of Odette's arrows forces him to rethink that strategy as it cuts into his body.

You rise, trembling from even that grazing blow, it feels as though some of your ribs are cracked, if not broken. You were sure that you evaded that steel ball, how did it hit you? Did it change course?

Odette unleashes a flurry of arrows, one after the other to suppress the man, not permitting him a wind-up as he's forced to use his weapon as a heavy shield. With a quick slam, he brings up more mud for cover. With a backward swing, a chain reaches out, sweeping across the open landscape. You see Odette duck down to avoid the threatening reach of the weapon, rain parting and distorting towards the arc of the wide swing.

You notice something strange with your eyes and opt to listen with your heart.

>>43920199


“Come, come, little bastards of deception! I'll draw you into the wake of my direction!”

The weapon, without a doubt has a special attribute.

Waiting for the chain to pass overhead, you get up, using the pole of your halberd for support. The pain from your bruised ribs is real, thought it's nothing in the face of the hatred you have for a man such as this.

>[Rush him again, but dodge high and come down when he's thrown his weapon.]
>[Odette's arrows are hurting him. Press him with highly evasive action and drive him into a corner.]
>[Flank him and unleash a flurry of Wind blades. He can't block from both angles!]
>[Write in]

>>43920219
>[Odette's arrows are hurting him. Press him with highly evasive action and drive him into a corner.]
I don't understand how his weapon works

>>43920219
>[Flank him and unleash a flurry of Wind blades. He can't block from both angles!]
For some reason evasion doesn't work well

>>43920219
>[Flank him and unleash a flurry of Wind blades. He can't block from both angles!]

>>43920219
>[Flank him and unleash a flurry of Wind blades. He can't block from both angles!]
If we still have the energy(?) for it.
Otherwise
>[Odette's arrows are hurting him. Press him with highly evasive action and drive him into a corner.]

>>43920219
going with >>43920315

>>43920315
This

>>43920219
>[Rush him again, but dodge high and come down when he's thrown his weapon.]

>>43920219

With your mobility sufficiently limited as it is by your hurting ribs, you realize that you can't take overactive maneuvers. Defying the pain, you let yourself fly by the scythe's power, coming around under the cover of the dark while the Scourge winds up his next brutal assault.

His gaze turns to Odette and you seize the air, letting out a long ranged wind blade to halt his attack. You see his blade vacuum out of the wound as he roars out, facing you again.

You hear the soldiers returning to his side with heavy stomps through muddy terrain. You'll need to finish this off quick.

Unrelenting, he swings his ball once more, letting it sweep across the terrain while simultaneously unleashing his weighted chain for an attack that covers the entire horizon.

Odette, seething with fury from seeing you in agony, aims for the oncoming ball. Red vapor erupts from her black bow, infused into the drawn arrow.

“A Mother's Claw.” rings out in the voice of her bow. The arrow's released, and a heavy force clashes with the ball, stopping it dead in its tracks as sparking claw marks scratch over the surface.

The attack causes the commander to roar in pain from the damage to his weapon, halting his focus on the assault.

As the chain comes around, you deal with it by driving your halberd into the ground and resting low, letting it curl around uselessly as its controller is preoccupied. With a deft move, you free your weapon by means of a swift transformation and surge forward from the Scourge's blindside. With a deadly leap, you unleash one last flurry of wind blades with all your might. With his weapon disarmed, he's forced to withstand the invisible cutting blades with his own body, defending with nothing but his arms and hands as they're cut to ribbons.

As your power drains from your body you see Odette draw her bow, lining up a lethal shot. She lets it go, and the arrow beheads the Danhor once known as “The Scourge.”

>>43920816

The soldiers arrived just in time to see you and their commander fall. They stare at the corpse listlessly as the rain begins to die down into a mere drizzle.

You rise up, in anguish as the soldiers approach. Odette steps up over you, steadying her bow, an unyielding mother bear.

You notice that the Danhor do not have their weapons at the ready, one comes forward and Odette draws her arrow back.

>[Let her kill them all, they deserve it.]
>[Stop her, this bloodshed needs to stop.]

>>43921004
>[Stop her, this bloodshed needs to stop.]

>>43921004
>[Stop her, this bloodshed needs to stop.]
Unless he tries to attack of course

>>43921004
>[Stop her, this bloodshed needs to stop.]
Hear what he wants to say.
Assuming he wants to talk

>>43921004
>[Let her kill them all, they deserve it.]

>>43921004
>[Stop her, this bloodshed needs to stop.]

>>43921004

As Odette prepares to kill them all in her wrath, you place a hand upon her shoulder, leaning heavily against her for support. “Hey Odette, I need some help here.”

She drops the arrow, and holds you up with her other hand, “Reaper, it's okay, I've got them-”

“No, I say that we're done, but only if they're done.” You turn your tired gaze to the Danhor.

The one that stepped forward looks to the others, and then drops humbly to a knee, “You have slain our commander and driven back our forces. We witnessed the terrible might of your PoP spells, and understand that we stand little to no chance against either of you. We are under oath to serve whomever is the lord of the Manor of Bikal. We wish to surrender or be left to flee as we have failed under our commander. If left to flee, we may meet again should you pursue this campaign against the manor.
However, know this. We will remember your might and mercy here today.”

The others kneel before you, their shields cast aside and their swords offered up to claim their own heads. “As we have chosen the sword, we are noble to die by the sword. The choice is yours.”

Odette stares daggers at those that submit to the two of you. “Do you not see, Reaper? They offer up their heads...” She breathes in with a hiss of air, “And you foul murderers, you dare to give up your lives? Have you not child nor family to return to? Are you all really so terrible in life as to be terrible in death?” Odette's conflicted concerns are written all over her face, the struggle between her two selves quite apparent as on of her horns slowly shrinks.

>[“You will surrender to us, and provide release for all the prisoners in your camp. You will then help fortify the place for our occupation.”]
>[“Flee to your lord then. Let him know that the Reaper comes for his head.”]
>[“Odette do what you want. You have more right than I to decide their fate.”]
>[Write in.]

>>43921468
>[“You will surrender to us, and provide release for all the prisoners in your camp. You will then help fortify the place for our occupation.”]

>>43921468
Free the prisoners and be imprisoned yourselves.

I promise that you will not die, but so must you bear the hate of those you have enslaved. You need not apologize, merely understand.

We'll deal with them after the lord. Probably duels to the death with our prospective contractors.

>>43921468
>[“Flee to your lord then. Let him know that the Reaper comes for his head.”]

>>43921468
>Provide release for prisoners
+
>[“Flee to your lord then. Let him know that the Reaper comes for his head.”]

>>43921468
>[“Odette do what you want. You have more right than I to decide their fate.”]

>>43921468
>[“Flee to your lord then. Let him know that the Reaper comes for his head.”]
Psychological warfare

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>>43921681
>>43921702
>>43921761

Okay, looking like you guys want to make some haughty Hylon reach maximum overparanoia, is that right?

>>43921858
What could possibly go wrong.

>>43921858
Well if were doing that, let mira lace them all with truth venom

>>43921858
Well that's the plan.
The Hylon would start giving the Danhor less rest because of constant guard duty etc.
Not to mention typical errors that people make when stressed out

>>43921858
Fallen asleep again?

>>43921468

As you lean against Odette, you look her in the eye, “I'll have you know, that they aren't the heads of this particular snake. Kill them and there will simply be others. They are sworn to the lord of the manor.” You look to the Danhor, “I've heard you lot say that more than once, am I to understand that if by some circumstance that lord of yours surrendered the manor to me, I would take charge of your loyalty?”

Some of the Danhor at the rear look at each other. The one that came forward says, “That is so. We believe that the one that holds that manor should hold claim to these lands. If I am speaking freely, we believe that he's an insufferable fool that propogates tragedy. There has been no honor in forcing Guisi to work. While I do not know what your Arche is... or even whether you are in fact a thespian, if you would rule with some Sol-damned dignity, we would be pleased.”

Odette's jaw clenches shut firm, finally dismissing her black bow to hold you up.

Finally, the rain clears and the clouds move away to let Luna's light shine through. The Concerto crickets shake each other's hands for an excellent performance. A small audience applauds and they put their instruments away and go home while the regularly scheduled crickets come out to play their ambient music.

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mX_B9WTt4s

Odette relaxes, holding you carefully, slowly bringing you down.
“I need to stand, you object,” Wobbling upon your feet. Raising your head as high as you can, “Release all of the Guisi you have imprisoned, and then go on ahead to your Lord. Let him know that the Reaper of Aurel comes for his head.”

>>43922539

“Understood.” the Danhor speaker replies, “Am I to understand that you are the Reaper?”

“That is so.”

“My name is Ser Alex of Bikal, I wish you well on your recovery.” The Danhor rises, as do the others. They turn, and march back to the labor camp to do as they were told. Loyal and honest idiots to a fault, no wonder they're so easy to hate.

You start to laugh, yet wince from the pain of your ribs.

“We should've killed them.” Odette whispers as she eases you down. You're glad to slump against the ground despite the thick mud.

“Killing them wouldn't have alerted their idiot lord to an impending attack. They'll guard around the clock, make mistakes, and then we can simply lop off his head during a moment of weakness.”

“You make it sound so easy reaper...” Odette looks out to the ruined forest, finally iluminated by Luna's light. “How many... Do you think we lost?”

“We'll find them. They'll receive proper burials.”You say as your eyes flicker, consciousness waning. “Find Eko... Have her... Patch me up.”


Exhausted and tired, you slip off to sleep. You've won this night, and the freedom of so many people.
“Congratulations Reaper!”
You hear a familiar voice call out to you, as you ride on the edge of sleep.

“Indeed. Many are did. Dreadful, and I suppose brilliant.” The other, more dreadful voice resounds.
Both are merely their voices, yet you hear the words clear as day from a distance even in your unconscious state.

“We are astounded by your performance, you've slain a- well, you've helped a heroine slay a dastardly villain!”

“Her power will grow, indeed, she may turn out vital for the adventures to come.” Says the tragedian.

>>43922554

“And so!” Says the woman, “We will offer you options.” Says the man.

They appear before you, the background a swirl of black and white with echoing grays diluting the whole field.

The two look at each other for a moment, “Are you certain that is optimal?” asks Avar.

The woman seems unsure, “Nay, perhaps this one instead,” Says Rava.

“Please, we are on stage as it is, we need to be ready for things like this!” Avar gripes, crossing his arms.

Rava holds up the mask of a fiery eyed woman, ornamented with love emenating from her heart-shaped eyes. “Behold, the face of an eternal dancer! If you so choose, you will wear her and go on an adventure of romance and dreams! You'll see places much further away and always be someone that gets their own way!”
Rava clears her throat, “Of course, that will mean returning The Reaper, Dramir for the time being! Haven't these people had enough help already?” Rava's voice is excited, energetic, cheerful, and yet... So queerly callous.

“Alternatively...” Avar presents a regal mask with swords reflected in its eyes, yet if you look deeper there is a greater beauty, passion, and understanding... A sense of justice even? “Behold, the mask of the King of Blades! Should you don this, you may find that your current allies will be hard-pressed to follow you. A true test of how much they admire and trust you. This adventure will take you through the courts of Hylon as the outlier King of Blades of House Gracia, Ward of Great House Castille.”

The two then speak as one, “Or you may choose to continue following the Reaper's path for the time being, though we will ask this all again in the future, for you must claim more masks to recover your true self.”


>[...Write in?]

>>43922566

“The choice.” Rava says.

“Is yours.” Avar finishes.

>[Live as the eternal dancer. A Namour that travels the lands for the romance of adventure!]
>[Take up the mask of the King of Blades. A Hylon nemesis to your current people, yet you may have the sway to end such atrocities.]
>[“I will stay as the Reaper, I am not yet done here.”]
>[...Write in?]

>You may ask some questions if you please. Choosing a mask will effectively end this act when they come to change your masks.

>If you guys want more time to decide, the scene may end here and I'll answer some questions off-script.

>>43922584
>[“I will stay as the Reaper, I am not yet done here.”]
We'll have to take the manor before we can take on a new face.
Or atleast that's what I think

>>43922584
>[“I will stay as the Reaper, I am not yet done here.”]
I'd be for changing masks after dealing with the mansion.
The situation here is like horribly "unfinished"

>>43922584
Just now I realise how strange and unintuitive this mechanic is.
I think we should go with
>[Take up the mask of the King of Blades. A Hylon nemesis to your current people, yet you may have the sway to end such atrocities.]
to deal with the manor. Though that means not having the Guisi as allies.
Fuck

>>43922584
>[“I will stay as the Reaper, I am not yet done here.”]
It's hard to surrender this face.
It's like giving up the character we have built until now.

Also I can't help but distrust the twins.
Am I mistaken or is that mask from the Hylon in the Reaper's flashback?

>>43922584
Could you confirm that we'll get another chance to end this arc after dealing with the manor?
If so
>[“I will stay as the Reaper, I am not yet done here.”]
If not
>[Take up the mask of the King of Blades. A Hylon nemesis to your current people, yet you may have the sway to end such atrocities.]

>>43922584
>[“I will stay as the Reaper, I am not yet done here.”]
Not done with this yet.
Signing off for tonight though

>>43922664
>Just now I realise how strange and unintuitive this mechanic is.

The mechanic of changing faces? Eventually, they'll yield the faces they've collected for you for your own freedom of choice. Right now, the faceless is going through a sort of "training" period.

That said, Some of the Guisi may be hard pressed to accept you. However that's not to say that some won't.

>>43922696
You are not mistaken. They went 2 for 1 with that little ambush.

I'd say that distrusting them is reasonable.

>>43922736
You're not being whisked away to another place by any means. Even if you chose the Hylon mask now, you could still resolve things.

That said, there will be another chance, that's what the third option is for.

>>43922775
Good night anon, thanks for playing!

>>43922584
>[Take up the mask of the King of Blades. A Hylon nemesis to your current people, yet you may have the sway to end such atrocities.]

>>43922584
>[Take up the mask of the King of Blades. A Hylon nemesis to your current people, yet you may have the sway to end such atrocities.]
Best bet at resolving this

>>43922584
>[“I will stay as the Reaper, I am not yet done here.”]

>>43922584
>[Take up the mask of the King of Blades. A Hylon nemesis to your current people, yet you may have the sway to end such atrocities.]

>>43922584
>[“I will stay as the Reaper, I am not yet done here.”]
After mansion, King of Blades


>questions
How long does the truth venom last? Long enough for a decent amount of travel?

Did we collect any of those threads from our kills?

Are we dealing with the Scourge's weapon next thread?

Are more of the Guisi ready to contract, now that they've had first blood?

>>43922584
>[Take up the mask of the King of Blades. A Hylon nemesis to your current people, yet you may have the sway to end such atrocities.]
We have to explain being a n imposter anyway at some point

>>43922584
>[Take up the mask of the King of Blades. A Hylon nemesis to your current people, yet you may have the sway to end such atrocities.]
We aren't the Reaper , we are faceless

>>43922861

The Truth venom lingers, however not even Mira is certain of the duration.

Many of the threads returned to Thespia. The Reaper doesn't currently know any spells that require loose fate threads.

The Scourge's weapon does linger. You may deal with it if you wish.

First blood is not always what constitutes a contract. Though it can help "Wake up" some weapons.

>>43922584
>[Take up the mask of the King of Blades. A Hylon nemesis to your current people, yet you may have the sway to end such atrocities.]

what's with the sudden influx of voters?

>>43922935
You going to wrap it up now will it continue this thread

>>43922989
Wrapping up the thread for scene end. We should have another thread on Saturday.

>>43922988
Important non-combat decision.

File: Curtains.jpg (101 KB, 1037x1000)

101 KB JPG

>>43922584


“I will stay as the reaper for now... I still have unresolved business here, and with that manor... I will also need to figure out how I will tell the others that I am an imposter... Might as well do that once they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am on their side.”

Avar and Rava look at each other. “Of this you are certain?” Avar asks.

“Yes, I will be ready when these people are safe, I cannot simply abandon them. Doing such a thing to people that have suffered for merely being in the wrong place, it does not sit well with me.”

Rava looks to Avar, her smile widening, “Oh, he certainly is how we remember, no?”

Avar shoots a harsh glare for Rava to be silent, “Indeed.”

You look at the both of them, even standing before them in this strange dream-like haze, you get the feeling that you've seen them, and this place before.

“Anything more that you'd like to share? If you two know anything about me, I'd very much like to hear.”

“You will learn in time. We rather not bore you with the past when you must fight now for the future. We will make our offers again, and I surely hope you do not disappoint your audience.”

“What? Audience?” You ask as the place begins to fade to black, “What audi-” You begin to fall and instantly wake up, rising to surprisingly not painful ribs. Eko looks down at you, one among several injured that she must've treated.

“Had to use a lot of threads on you... Your fate threads are incredibly powerful and numerous, replacing that many touch some searching, but your ribs are all good to go.”

“And those remaining Danhor?” You ask the Protean.

Eko huffs, her chest rising up and down, “They released the prisoners in silence. Then they continued on , going off to who knows where...

“Good.” You slip on your bear cloak and ready yourself for close to this story of revenge and hatred!

>End Scene

>>43923318
>Your fate threads are incredibly powerful and numerous
does that mean we have more HP or something? Are unimportant people just screwed?


Does Faceless know latin?

>>43923386
Thespia itself was born by the spinning of countless celestial strands of fate.

I would say it's more like MP than HP.

>>43923386
Some of the words it calls out are bastardized latin, yes.

>>43923424
I mean if he understands other peoples' latinized moves

Living Lightning, was it?

>>43923318
Thanks for running.

>>43923438
It's a weird sense of "He inherently understands it." But doesn't "Realize that he knows."

>>43923466
So it's like knowing what things do while spouting,for him, gibberish?

>>43923466
now that's funky

>>43923479
Aye.